David Berard returns to Providence College as the Coordinator of Men's Ice Hockey Operations.

Aug. 2, 2013

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -

Providence College men’s hockey Head Coach Nate Leaman announced that David Berard ’92 has been named the Coordinator of Men’s Ice Hockey Operations. Berard is rejoining the Friars to assume the newly created position, having also served two stints as an assistant coach after playing for the Friars from 1988-92.

“We are very pleased to have someone with David's level of experience and knowledge of college hockey joining our staff,” Leaman said. “We are excited to have him back in the Friar Family.”

Berard has over 20 years of collegiate hockey experience, including 15 with Providence College. Most recently he spent the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons with the University of Connecticut, where he closed out his tenure as the Interim Head Coach.

"I am very happy to be returning to Providence College and I appreciate the opportunity that Nate has given me," Berard said. "I am looking forward to working closely with him, Ben [Barr], Jamie [Russell], the players and the additional staff members to help build upon the successes of the past two seasons. This is an exciting time in the history of the Providence College Hockey program and I am honored and proud to be a part of it."

Berard officially assumed UConn’s Interim Head Coach position on January 7, 2013 after serving as an assistant coach under Bruce Marshall. As the Interim Head Coach, Berard led the Huskies to a 15-7-3 record including a 10-3-2 record to close out the year. Berard and the Huskies swept their 2013 Atlantic Hockey (AHA) quarterfinal series with Robert Morris before ultimately falling in the AHA semifinals. In 2011-12, Berard was instrumental in leading the Huskies to a 16-19-4 record while ranking second in the nation on the power play (25.7 percent).

Prior to UConn, Berard held a variety of roles for the Friars over the years. He served in various assistant coach roles from 1994-96 and then from 1999-2011. From 1994-96 and then from 1998-2005, Berard served under former Friar Head Coach Paul Pooley. Then from 2005-2011, Berard was part of former Head Coach Tim Army’s staff.

During his most recent work with the Friars, Berard directed skill development sessions for forwards and defensemen and worked extensively with Friar goaltenders. For seven seasons, he also coordinated and directed the penalty killing strategy. He also developed scouting reports and oversaw the implementation and use of video technology for the program. Administratively, Berard served as the staff liaison for the Office of Academic Services, which monitored the academic progress of Friar Hockey players.

In addition, Berard also served as the recruiting coordinator for the Friars from 1998-2005, as well as, Associate Head Coach from 2003-05. He was instrumental in bringing a number of talented players to Providence. During his tenure, Berard recruited three players named to the AHCA/JOFA University Division All-American Teams, one player voted to the GTE/CoSIDA Division I Academic All-American Team, seven players selected to the Hockey East All-Star Teams and five players chosen for the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. Additionally, Berard recruited 21 players that were selected in the NHL Entry Draft. He also recruited five players who signed NHL contracts and coached ten players who have played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Furthermore, two of Berard's recruits represented the United States at the IIHF World Under-20 Championships.

In his first two years at Providence, the Friars made consecutive trips to the Hockey East Championship Game, finishing runner-up in 1995 and winning the championship in 1996. For their efforts, the Friars earned an automatic berth to the 1996 NCAA Tournament. In 2000-01, Berard helped guide the Friars to a second-place finish, the best Hockey East Regular Season finish in program history. They also earned a berth in the Hockey East Championship Game and an at-large bid to the 2001 NCAA Tournament.

Berard returned to Providence College prior to the start of the 1998-99 season after serving as the top assistant for two years at Lake Superior State University of the CCHA. At Lake Superior, Berard served as recruiting coordinator for Head Coach Scott Borek.

Berard began his coaching career at Colby College during the 1992-93 season. After two successful rebuilding seasons, Berard returned to his alma mater to serve as an assistant coach for Pooley.

During the past 18 years, Berard has been heavily involved in player development for USA Hockey at the national, district and local levels. In addition to presenting at many coaching education program clinics, he has coached at numerous USA Hockey National Select Festivals and New England Player Development Camps. From 2003-08, Berard served as the Director of Player Development for the New England District. In the summer of 2004, Berard served as an assistant coach for the USA Hockey Under-17 Select Team, which won the silver medal at the Five Nations Tournament in Halle a.d. Saale, Germany. Most recently, Berard was named as a coach for the USA Hockey - Warren Strelow National Team Goaltending Program, a position he has held since 2008.

A goaltender in his playing days at Providence College, Berard was a member of one of the most successful classes to wear a Friar uniform, amassing a total of 87 wins over their four-year career. Berard was a member of three teams that reached the Hockey East Championship Semifinals and two teams that qualified for the NCAA Ice Hockey Tournament.

Berard graduated from Providence College in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Marketing. He currently resides in East Greenwich, R.I. with his wife, Lynne – a former field hockey player at PC - and their sons, Brett and Brady.